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EC to meet today to set a date for LG Polls!

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EC to meet today to set a date for LG Polls!

A special discussion regarding the announcement of a new date for the local government election is to be held at 10.30 am today (7) at the Election Commission.

The Finance Ministry Secretary, the Government Press Officer and the Inspector General of Police have been invited to attend the discussion.

The members of the Election Commission will meet separately today to discuss the holding of the local government elections.

Meanwhile, Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Tissa Attanayake said that the new date is likely to be announced by the 2nd week of April.

A group of opposition MPs are also scheduled to meet the Election Commission today to discuss the announcement of the local government election date.

MP M.A. Sumanthiran said that a letter signed by nine MPs representing the Opposition has been sent to the Chairman of the Election Commission to arrange for the local government elections to be held before March 20.

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Ex-SriLankan Airlines chief produced before court

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Former Chairman of SriLankan Airlines – Nishantha Wickramasinghe has been produced before the Colombo Magistrate’s Court by prison officials today (July 01).

Wickramasinghe was arrested last week by the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) and is currently in remand custody,

Related News :

https://srilankamirror.com/news/2-ex-heads-of-govt-institutions-arrested/

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Special FD scheme for senior citizens introduced

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The Ministry of Finance has officially launched the special fixed deposit scheme for senior citizens.

Proposed in the Budget 2025, the scheme which is open to resident Sri Lankan citizens aged 60 years and above, comes into effect from today (July 01).

Eligible fixed deposits can be opened between July 01, 2025, and December 31, 2025, and must have a 12-month tenure.

The scheme will be implemented through the 17 licensed commercial banks; five (05) government banks and twelve (12) private banks that have confirmed participation. As part of the process, customers are required to provide a declaration confirming that the funds deposited are their own, their monthly income is less than Rs. 150,000, consenting to the sharing of relevant information with the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development for verification purposes, agreeing that any false information provided will result in disqualification from receiving the interest subsidy.

The government has allocated Rs. 30 billion to cover interest subsidies under this initiative.

Key features of the scheme:
– Deposit Period: 12 months (1 year)

– Deposit Limit: Maximum of Rs. 1 million

– Interest Benefit: Depositors will receive either

  • An additional 3% over the Average Weighted Fixed Deposit Rate (AWFDR), or
  • An additional 3% over the declared fixed deposit rate—whichever yields a higher return.

Senior citizens interested in availing themselves of the benefits are encouraged to visit the nearest bank branch starting today. Applicants must provide valid documentation, including their National Identity Card (NIC) and Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) issued by the Inland Revenue Department (IRD).

This scheme aims to support the financial security of senior citizens by offering them a safer and higher-yielding savings option.

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Worker remittances up by nearly 18% in May

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The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) reports a 17.9% increase in foreign worker remittances for May 2025, bringing total remittances for the January–May period to US$ 3.1 billion.

Tourism earnings for May are estimated at US$ 164 million, contributing to a cumulative total of US$ 1.5 billion over the past year—highlighting a steady recovery in the tourism sector.

In terms of imports, US$ 118 million was spent on vehicle imports in May, with a total of US$ 312 million recorded from January to May 2025.

Sri Lanka’s gross official reserves remain stable at US$ 6.3 billion, maintaining the same level as in April.

On the domestic front, construction activity rebounded in May after a slowdown in April due to the festive season. The Sri Lanka Buyers Index rose to 59.7 points, signaling increased activity—especially in road development, which saw a notable rise in new project awards.

(dailynews.lk)

(Except for the headline, this story, originally published by dailynews.lk has not been edited by SLM staff)

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